Good thing he did not oversleep. Well, the real reason was because he had a flying talking alarm that pestered him till he woke up. He was thankful to the fairy, it would be bad if he made the Duke wait for him.
He had a quick breakfast and bid goodbye to Amy and Samantha. He informed them that he would be on a long quest, so he would not be coming back to stay at this place for a while. Amy showed a worried face. Jack pat her head and told her not to worry. Samantha gave him a few pieces of high-quality bread which could restore health better than the bread he first got in the tutorial period. He accepted them with gratitude.
He ran to the noble district. He was not late so he did not hail a carriage.
When he was about to arrive at the Duke’s estate, he noticed two men were in front of the entrance to the estate. He recognized one of them and he tensed up right away.
The man was Warren, the magistrate who was also the father of Walter, who he had chopped an arm off.
Did he seriously still try to capture him? Jack thought as he quickly paid attention to his surroundings, expecting soldiers to come out to surround him.
“Look at him. Like a thief who has been caught stealing,” Warren mocked.
The man beside Warren chuckled, then said to Jack. “Don’t worry, we are not intending any harm to you. I’m just here to see the outworlder who has been so brave as to provide his support to my youngest brother.”
“Hm?” Jack did not understand what the guy was saying. He paid attention to the guy.
He looked very well dressed. He wore a royal mantle with intricate embellishment. He was tall and had a broad frame, Jack did not doubt that behind that fancy clothing was a muscular body. His jaw was square and his face had a natural stern expression. His eyes constantly expressed disdain for his surroundings.
Jack inspected the guy.
Therribus (Rare Elite Human, Crown Prince), level 55
HP: 610,000
Crown Prince? Jack was flabbergasted. He then thought of when the guy mentioned his youngest brother. Did he mean Alonzo?
Warren who was displeased by Jack’s lack of response, scolded him, “you are in the presence of royalty, outworlder! The one standing before you is the crown prince of this kingdom. Hmph, I bet a barbaric race such as yours know nothing of ethics. Why have you still not bow down?”
Instead of bowing, Jack fired back at the magistrate, “last time you got chased away by the younger brother. Now you ask for help from the older brother. Such a nag! Who was even blind enough to appoint you as a magistrate anyway?”
“You… scoundrel!! Are you so eager for us to deal with you here!” Warren’s face was red with fury.
Therribus waved for him to calm down, but Jack could see a hint of anger in his eyes. “As a matter of fact, I was the one who put him in his position. You certainly are as brave as they say, or maybe just plain dumb. Did anyone ever call you dumb?”
“As a matter of fact as well, some did. Though I don’t know why they made such a big deal about it. I still kicked their asses though.”
“So, are you saying you are going to kick my ass as well? Considering I’ve called you dumb.”
“I don’t know, would you like me to?”
“You insolent prick! How dare you show such disrespect to the royal family!” Warren could not stand Jack’s manner. “We will skin you alive!”
“You outworlders think yourselves are special? You people are nothing but weaklings who trespassed into our territory! You do know that you are so weak at this moment that we can kill you with ease, don’t you?” Therribus warned.
Jack was in fact well aware of it as well. Though he was mouthing off against the two, his heart had been beating furiously. His nerves had been on full alert, ready to spring the moment it was needed. He could only do his best to run away, even if he thought it was futile.
“But as I said, we do not come to harm you, at least not today,” Therribus continued. “You are under my youngest brother’s banner, it will look bad if I hurt his retinue in broad daylight. Still, mark my words, since you are on my youngest brother’s side, that makes you my opposition. You take care not to let me catch you, I will make you suffer more than a simple death and forced you to eat back all the words you said today.”
After those threats, the crown prince turned around and left. Warren continued staring at Jack hostilely for a bit before turning and followed after the crown prince.
Jack exhaled a breath of relief after seeing they turned their backs. He could feel the cold sweat on his forehead.
‘What the hell was that all about?’ He said in his mind. ‘He said he is Alonzo’s big brother, but he said also as if he was his own brother’s enemy?’
“Probably rivalry within the royal family. Such things are common when it comes to royal succession period.”
‘Is the king of this kingdom dying?’ Jack asked.
“Don’t know. He was pretty old already by now. Many haven’t seen him in years. Rumors are he is sick. Probably that’s what sparks this royal rivalry.”
Rivalry for succession? Things do tend to get ugly for a kingdom under this condition. Jack suddenly thought back to the time when he first learned about Alonzo’s identity as a prince. Alonzo had told him that many others might balk after learning his identity.
“Shit! So this is what it was about?” Jack cursed out. He felt down, how did he unknowingly get sucked into the conflict between these royal princes?
“What was about what?” Peniel did not understand Jack’s words.
Jack didn’t bother to explain, he instead asked her, ‘Peniel, if a fight broke between them, and the crown prince wins the throne. What will happen to me and my status in the kingdom faction?’
“You probably will get labeled as a traitor due to your connection to the prince. All your status in the faction gets revoked, and if you are lucky to escape the guards, you will become an enemy of the state in this kingdom.”
“F*CK!” He cursed out even louder this time. Warren who was not yet far turned his head back due to the shout.
As he was lamenting about his uncertain fate in this kingdom, he noticed the duo of crown prince Therribus and Warren stopped their walks after meeting with another two persons. Jack was surprised to recognize one of those two persons.
What was she doing here? He thought in his mind.
“What are you doing here?” Therribus’ voice sounded as he addressed the person he passed by. Jack was still within earshot, added with his curiosity due to seeing the woman, he walked closer to listen to their conversations.
“Don’t be so unfriendly, brother. We might be competitors, but we are also brothers of flesh and blood. There is no reason for us to not be civil,” replied the person to who Therribus was talking. He was smiling and gave people an impression of cordiality. Jack inspected this new NPC.
Rhemos (Special Elite Human, second prince), level 50
HP: 210,000
Another prince, f**k! Jack cursed out. He was in full witness of the royal family drama.
